By NNN-IRNA
Tehran : Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said his upcoming visit to Iraq is not against any third country rather it can benefit all.
Speaking in an interview with Iranian television, the president said, “If there is peace and brotherhood but not occupation in Iraq, and all respect the territorial integrity of that country, then, this (my trip) will benefit everybody.”
President Ahmadinejad will start an official visit to Iraq on Sunday.
On the importance of his visit to Iraq, the president said, “The two nations of Iran and Iraq are closely intertwined. Our cultures, civilizations, histories and beliefs are very close to each other and with the exception of a short period when a dictator named Saddam, with a special mission, created a distance between the two countries, the two nations have always been together.”
“Iraq is an independent country in which there is an independent government and we should help them. This government has invited me and I should go there.”
“My visit will strengthen the Iraqi nation and its government and will help the bilateral brotherly relations and regional peace and security,” the president said.
Meanwhile, an Iraqi security official said here Saturday that special security arrangements are in effect in Baghdad prior to Ahmadinejad’s Iraq visit on Sunday.
Spokesman of Baghdad Security Project Brigadier General Ghassem Ata said Baghdad Security Project Command has taken special security arrangement for the visit.
Ata declined to provide further details due to security reasons.
He added that some streets and ways will be closed, if needed.
President Ahmadinejad’s plane is to land in Baghdad International Airport about 15 kms west of Baghdad on Sunday.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari will welcome the president at the airport and then will accompany him to the presidential office, where special welcome ceremony will be held.
Iraqi presidential office sources had earlier told IRNA correspondent in Baghdad that 30,000 presidential guards are contributing to special security arrangements to guarantee safety of the Iranian president.